Diplomatic World 67

NEGATIVE COUNTRY: IT TAKES MORE GREEN-
HOUSE GASES FROM THE ATMOSPHERE THAN IT
EMITS. FURTHERMORE, MORE THAN HALF THE
COUNTRY IS PROTECTED AS NATIONAL PARKS,
NATURE RESERVES AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES,
ALL CONNECTED BY A NETWORK OF BIOLOGI-
CAL CORRIDORS. HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, HOW IS BHUTAN
ENSURING THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINA-
BILITY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION
REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE NATIONAL
AGENDA? WHAT IS BHUTAN’S VIEW ON THE OUT-
COMES OF THE 2021 UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE
CHANGE CONFERENCE (COP 26)?
Conservation of environment is one of the four pillars of GNH.
This pillar ensures that Bhutan pursues socio-economic development
programs that do not compromise its environment and
biodiversity. Article 5 of the Constitution of Bhutan mandates
every Bhutanese to ‘serve as a trustee of the Kingdom’s natural
resources and environment for the benefit of present and future
has also been experiencing increasing numbers of forest fires,
glacial lake outburst floods and high intensity erratic rainfall
events. Such incidences are only likely to increase in the future
with increasing global warming. Moreover, more than half of the
Bhutanese population is dependent on the agricultural sector
while the main contributor to the country’s economy is the hydropower
sector. These sectors are highly sensitive to changing
climate. Therefore, understanding the importance of adapting to
the impacts of climate change, Bhutan has ratified all the three
Rio Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification.
Bhutan also committed to remain carbon neutral for all
times at the COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009 and has ratified the
Paris Agreement on Climate Accord in 2016. Bhutan has successfully
implemented many of the activities under the National
Adaptation Program of Action and has developed a roadmap for
disaster risk management since 2019 to enhance disaster risk
management governance and coordination. Towards achieving
a coordinated national approach in addressing climate change,
the Climate Change Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan has been
adopted. Furthermore, the National Environment Strategy 2020
aimed at creating a healthy and sustainable environment has
Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP 26) was convened
in very challenging and unprecedented circumstances, we are
happy that the conference secured important decisions on the
priority areas for the LDCs such as enhancing the NDCs, scaling
up finance for adaptation, renewing focus on adaptation and
resilience, finalization of remaining items of the rulebook of the
Paris Agreement and long-term decarbonization strategy in line
with mid-century net zero commitments.
BHUTAN IS DRAWING IMPORTANT LESSONS
FROM THE PANDEMIC – INCLUDING THE NEED
AND POSSIBILITIES FOR LONG TERM, TRANS-
FORMATIVE AND GREEN SOLUTIONS FOR ITS
FOOD SYSTEM, LOCAL ECONOMY, PUBLIC SER-
VICES DELIVERY, APPROACHES TO LEARNING,
DATA ECOSYSTEM AND PREPAREDNESS FOR
DISASTERS AND FUTURE PANDEMICS. WHAT ARE
THE NEXT NECESSARY STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO
RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC?
in our system and hence given us the opportunity to reform and
strengthen them.
While a primary focus would be on recovering from the pandemic
at a faster rate, importance will also be given to designing sustainable
solutions that will not just help Bhutan recover quickly
but help achieve a high income sustainable economy for all
Bhutanese. Going forward, our primary focus therefore would be
on reforming the education system and the civil service system
towards creating a knowledge based economy and a resilient
and adaptive 21st century workforce respectively, in keeping with
His Majesty The King’s Royal vision for Bhutan. A lot of initiatives
and programs are already underway in Bhutan on achieving this
vision. Furthermore, initiatives are already being taken in Bhutan
towards reforming the Technical and Vocational Education and
Training sector to equip our youths with 21st century skills. The
Build Bhutan Project and Skills Development Program being
implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources of
Bhutan are specifically aimed at skilling our youths and reducing
the youth unemployment rate which has been further exacerbated
by the pandemic.
generations.’
been recently endorsed.
Bhutan has managed to successfully keep infections from COV-
ID-19 at low numbers. This success has however come at a huge
A key challenge that remains to be addressed is in diversify-
Geographically, Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayan belt
As the Chair of the LDC Group on Climate Change, Bhutan par-
cost for the country’s economy and has further exacerbated
ing our narrow economic base. Our economy is today largely
and has a fragile mountainous environment. The impacts of
ticipated and led the LDC group in numerous high-level as well
the many challenges the country was already facing. And while
dependent on the hydropower and tourism sector. The impact of
global warming are resulting in loss and damage of properties,
as technical level meetings and negotiations, within and outside
the challenges presented by the pandemic have been huge, it
the pandemic on the tourism industry and hence on our econ-
assets and lives in some cases. Over the past few years, Bhutan
the UNFCCC process, throughout 2020 and 2021. While the
has also made us realize the shortcomings and vulnerabilities
omy has been huge. The pandemic has only heightened our
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